Who Is Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena Williams' Boyfriend?

Tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou first appeared in Serena Williams' life after she lost in the first round at the French Open in 2012 and desperately wanted to get back on the top of her game. Since then, the two have been spotted often together on – and off – the court.

Mouratoglou began his own tennis academy in 1996 after deciding to move away from the family renewable energy firm and pursue his passion for tennis as a career. Since waging his own career on the courts wasn’t possible, Mouratoglou decided to throw himself into teaching. Equipped with love and knowledge of the game, and a wealthy family, Mouratoglou built his academy up, recruiting the likes of Marcos Baghdatis, Julia Vakulenko, Grigor Dimitrov – and now Serena Williams.

When Williams lost in the first round in the 2012 French Open – her first first-round loss in a Grand Slam tournament – she was in search of guidance that would get her back on track. After connecting with Mouratoglou, Williams went on to win her fifth Wimbledon title, an Olympic Gold Medal, her second French Open title and her fifth US Open title on Sunday, Sept. 8. She’s the No. 1 ranked female tennis player and holding.

Mouratoglou and Williams relationship has developed into more than that of a coach and star pupil, according to reports and paparazzi photos. However, Mouratoglou isn’t a single man – at least not technically. The tennis coach is still married to his wife Clarisse Mouratoglou, with whom he has two children.

Williams’ rival Maria Sharapova, for one, isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to the relatively public affair. "If Serena wants to talk about something personal,” she said at a press conference earlier in the year. “She should talk about her relationship and her boyfriend who was married, who is getting a divorce and who has kids – and not draw attention to other things."

It’s unclear which came first – the affair or the divorce filing – although the French press is reporting that the tennis coach’s relationship with the star player precipitated the separation. And although neither Williams nor Mouratoglou has confirmed the personal nature of their relationship, William’s hasn’t shied away from gushing about her closest coach.

"We have this great communication," Williams told USA Today in June following her latest French Open win. "It's definitely a two-way street. I think coaches sometimes think it's always their way. And it's like, 'You do this because I say it.' Our dynamic is not like that at all. I think that's what makes him so good. He's open to me, and I'm open to him. It creates something special."

– Chelsea Regan

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